FOOTBALL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1834, 1 May 1907, Page 39

FOOTBALL

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS The Rugby Union championships were continued on Saturday. At the Athletic Park there was a fairly good attendance of spectators, who were provided with some good f ootball in the Oriental-Athletic match. The heavier team of the former club enabled it to lead by 5 points to nothing in the first ©pell. In the second spell, however, the superior condition of the Athletic men enabled them to put on 13 points, and the game be same most interesting, first one team and then the other leading by two or three points. The match resulted in a draw, each side securing 13 points. At Petone, Melrose beat Victoria College by 34 to nil, and at Miramar Poneke defeated Wellington bv 11 to nil. ATHLETIC (13) v. ORIENTAL (13). In the first spell Oriental played with the sun behind them. Even play about half-way followed the kick-ml for a couple of minutes. Sim Wilson put in a nice little run along the touchline, but was bumped by, a heavy opponent.. One of liis shoulders was injured, and he had to retire. McLennan moved up to wing-threequarter, and veteran “Tom” Hales came on as full-back. A little later Athletic forcedoriental twice. . Then Wells got offside, and Even,sen placed the ball over the bar, but as it rose Collerton touched it with his hand. Life headed a rush co the Athletic iinc, and a moment later Matliies n set-red near the posts, Roberts converting the try. Oriental, 5; Athletic, nil. Cunninghame intercepted near Athletic twenty-five, anil rot away, but -passed recklessly behind himself instead of kicking over the head of the Oriental full-back, and thus threw awav an almost certain try. Anderson nearly got over from a passing rush, but a f>ee-kiek relieved the blue and blacks. The ball was in Athletic territory at half-time, with Oriental 5 points are ad. Oriental began the second spell by invading Athletic’s quarters, where they stayed for a time. Aj derson almost got" over again O’Sullivan headed a rush into the hack and white’s twentyfive. Murray scored from close work near the line, and Evensen landed a nice goal. Athletic, 5; Oriental, . 5. O’Sullivan started another rush into the Oriental twenty-five, and a little later Evensen got away,. and passed to McLennan, who threw forward. The blue and blacks continued to press, and then from a passing rush A. Wilson crossed Oriental’s line near the corner. Evensen made a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert. Athletic 8, Oriental 5. The latter team then attacked, and Collerton got away, but foolishly kicked into touch-in-goal. Athletic returned to the attack, and play settled for a time in Oriental territory. Presently Manning secured file ball and set sail for the Athletic line. Pownall, however, cleverly knocked the leather out of his hands and with a nice kick sent it into touch. Soon after Mathieson made an opening for Furrie, whose speed enabled him to score near the corner. Roberts kicked a beautiful goal. Oriental 10, Athletic 8. The black and whites kept the ball in Athletic’s twenty-five for a while, and then O’Sullivan and Wilson headed a nice rush to Oriental’s twenty-five. Wilson scored again from a bout of passing, and Evensen converted. Athletic 13, Oriental 10 The superior weight of the black and white forwards, however, enabled them to return to the blues’ twenty-five. A moment or two later the referee, for some reason known apparently to himself alone, awarded Oriental a free kick, and Roberts kicked another goal, equalising the scores. Even play about half-way continued until time was called. Mr Laws was referee. PETONE (31) v. OLD BOYS (0). Petone had little need to exert themselves in this game. The play was in Old Boys’ territory nearly all the time. Once or twice the Old Boys were allowed to vary matters with a ran down-field, but not for long. The blues put up 15 points in the first spell, and 16 in the second. Tries were scored by Hardham (2), Byrne (2), Wright, Tyne, “Pinky” Read, and E. Read. Two of these were converted by Ryan, who also kicked a penalty goal. Mr Francis refereed. PONEKE (11) v. WELLINGTON (0). After a willing game this match resulted in a win for Poneke by 11 points to nil. From the start the Reds were on the aggressive, and within a few minutes Wigliton pushed his way to the front in a scrambling rush and fell on the ball in the nick of time. Wallace added the major points with a good kick. Wellington forwards tried to force the pace a hit, and once or twice looked like getting a score, hut the defence was too strong. A little later'a good piece of passing work Ly Poncko Lacks ended in Wallace getting possession and streaking over the line near the corner. Tlis kick at,- gaol failed, but was a good attempt from a difficult angle. In the second spell Wellington made great efforts to retrieve their position, and Poneke had to force once or twice. The only score in this spell resulted in a pretty piece of passing work m winch Skelly, Wallace and Twohill took part, the latter getting over. Wallace again failed with the kick. The game was worth watchng, and both teams put m some good work, although occasionally a lull in the pace showed that the men were not yet in full training. _ Mr O' Connell was in charge of the whistle. MELROSE (34) v. VICTORIA COLLEGE (0). Melrose had a day off against Victoria College at Petone, and gave a slightly rearranged team an opportunity of practieisin <T together. They scored meiely when inclined to do so? Six tries were obtained for the red and blaesby m Gll ' Christ, McKay (3), Beavis and Be Bhns. G. Spencer converted each one, and also potted a goal.

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Selwyn defeated Oriental by 11 to 3. For the winners, tries were scored by

Flack, . Vince and W. Gosling, the, .Lastnamed converting one. . Guise scored a try for Oriental. Kia ,Oro beat , bt.. James by 10 to 6. Church and ihgrhm scored for the losers. Southern dreiv with Melrose, 11 points each. Tor Southern Clark and .barltrop scored tries, one of them being converted »y Shepperd, who' also kicked a penalty goal. Athletic beat Old Boys by H to nil. Tries were secured by Hales, Chapman and Gordon, the last-named also kicking a penalty goal. Poneke defeated Brooklyn by 3 to nil. . At Petone Jme Home team drew with W ellingion, neither side scoring. THIRD-CLASS. " Athletic beat Poneke by 3 to nil, Huncomb scoring' a try. Souihern easily defeated Victoria College B. Tries wer® secured by Foot head, Wilson (2), Cowan, E. Norris, Day, Thomson, Pope, and Turner, of which W. Norris converted Turner one and Ecotiiead one. St, James beat Selwyn by B.to 4. Be Rose and Twomey , scored tries for the winnere, McKenzie converting one. . For Selwyn J. Wilton dropped a goal from the field. Wellington College beat Victoria College A by 5 to 3. Karori beat Old Boys by 6 to~ nil. Petone defeated Star by 13 points to nil. Byrne, Parrant, • and Nankiville scored tries, and J. Ryan potted a goal. , FOURTH-CLASS. After a well-ccmtested game Brooklyn beat Southern by 7to 6. Tlie scores were Brooklyn 3 Southern 6, until just before the call of time, when Brooklyn putted a goal. Russell and Campbell scored trie6' for the losers. Star defeated Melrose by 9to 8 For the winners Wilkinson scored two tries and Bridge one. Athletic tbeat Oriental by 3 to nil. St. James beat Poneke by 5 to 3, Laughton, scoring a try, converted by Church, for the winners. Petone defeated Selwyn by 21 to nil. For Petone Miller,' Hagen, Price, and Leppel* scored tries, the last being converted, and Miller also secured a goal from the field and a penalty goal. St. Patrick’s College won from Brooklyn by default, owing to the withdrawal of the latter team. FIFTH-CLASS. St. Patrick’s College defeated St. James by 29 to nil. Tries were scored by Maher (2), Ryan (2), Flynn (2), Allardice, Mahoney, and E. Ryan. Ryan converted a try. Athletic beat Polhill by 11 to 3. Boyce (2) and Furness scored tries and Lindsay converted one. Southern beat Wellington College A by 5 to nil, E. Russell scoring a try converted by L... Campbell. Oriental defeated Melrose by 5 to nil, Donovan scoring and converting a try. Wellington College B defeated Johnsonville by 37 to nil. The PetoneSelwyn fixture was abandoned on account of the state of the ground. AUCKLAND, April 28. A Rugby football match played yesterday between cricketers and non-cricket-ers resulted in a victory for non-cricket-ers by 9 points to 3. The proceeds will be devoted to the Auckland Cricket Association’s coach fund. CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. The senior football matches were continued yesterday afternoon. Results— Christchurch (10) beat Old Boys (5), Sydenham (15) beat Lin wood (0), Albion. (17) beat Canterbury College (0), Merivale a bye. DUNEDIN, April 28. Results of football matches—Alhambra beat Zihgari by 6 points to 3, Southern boat Port by 8 to 3. University beat Pirates by 40 to nil. Kaikorai beat Dunedin by 14 to 7, and Taieri beat Union by 8 to 3.